The Clarence House Chase at Ascot was the race of the season so far and the rematch between Shishkin and Energumene before a packed house at Cheltenham on Wednesday promises to be better yet.
Shishkin will be the punters’ favourite after that one-length success at Ascot, while Willie Mullins, who trains both Chacun Pour Soi and Energumene, says the former is the better horse. He does not seem keen to show his best form abroad, however, while Shishkin is always likely to put in the occasional sloppy jump.
Energumene (3.30), though, was almost foot-perfect at Ascot, and travelled supremely well throughout. At around 4-1, he is the value bet to find the length he needs to upset the odds-on favourite.
1.30: Sir Gerhard is very short in the betting given that his hurdling was hardly foot-perfect at Leopardstown last time, but he got the job done readily enough in the end and should find it all a little less frantic over this trip. Stage Star, the Challow Hurdle winner, may be the biggest danger.
2.10: L’Homme Presse and Bravemansgame arrive with near-identical profiles. Unbeaten in four races over fences including a Grade One, L’Homme Presse also has course form in the Dipper on New Year’s Day, but Bravemansgame is proven at this trip and that just tips the balance in his favour in what is likely to be a well-run race.
2.50: As competitive as it gets, even at the Festival, but Drop The Anchor hinted at a return to form last time, finished a close seventh in the County last year and has crept in on a 3lb lower mark this time around.
4.10: Tiger Roll was a long way short of his best at Navan last time, but he was last of six, beaten by nearly 65 lengths, less than a month before running away with this 12 months ago and this has been his only real target for months. One of the all-time Festival greats can hopefully sign off with his sixth win at the meeting.
4.50: A fierce gallop is guaranteed with at least six regular front-runners in the field, but Before Midnight can sit just behind the pace too, and his win over track and trip on drying ground in October gives him a solid chance at around 14-1.
Huntingdon 1.15 Gentleman At Arms 1.50 Joly Maker 2.30 Hello Sunshine 3.10 Poker Master 3.50 Saligo Bay 4.30 Champ Is Real 5.05 Castle Keep
Cheltenham 1.30 Sir Gerhard 2.10 Bravemansgame 2.50 Drop The Anchor (nap) 3.30 Energumene (nb) 4.10 Tiger Roll 4.50 Before Midnight 5.30 American Mike
Newcastle 5.14 Ghostly 5.45 Broken Rifle 6.15 Diderot 6.45 Wheal Kitty 7.15 El Bello 7.45 I Know How
Kempton Park 6.00 Surrey Mist 6.30 Guilin 7.00 Graignes 7.30 Arousing 8.00 Chase The Dollar 8.30 Thapa Vc
5.30: By definition, there is always a huge amount of unrevealed potential in the Champion Bumper, which may be one reason why only two favourites have obliged in the past 16 years. American Mike has a near-identical profile to the market leader, Facile Vega, with two wide-margin wins on the bit, and makes plenty of appeal at around 9-4 to turn him over.
